A Treatise on Painting
by Leonardo da Vinci, translated by John Francis Rigaud
Where Reflexes are to be most apparent
4010521A Treatise on Painting — Where Reflexes are to be most apparentJohn Francis RigaudLeonardo da Vinci

Chap. CCXVII.Where Reflexes are to be most apparent.

Of all reflected lights, that is to be the most apparent, bold, and precise, which detaches from the darkest ground; and, on the contrary, that which is upon a lighter ground will be less apparent. And this proceeds from the contraste of shades, by which the faintest makes the dark ones appear still darker; so in contrasted lights, the brightest cause the others to appear less bright than they really are[1].